About this project

$1,132

pledged of $800 goal

28

backers

Hello folks!

I'm toymaker Vickangaroo. I generally create smaller toys including cute little crabs, dinosaurs and a variety of bunnies that would fit in the palm of your hand. On occasion I set out to make a monster. They're usually a bit larger, somewhere between 10-15" long and nearly just as tall. These toys are a bit wilder and a bit toothier.

This time I'd like to work much larger, much wilder. I'd like to create a soft, fiber sculpture that is 12 to 15 feet long and between 3 to 4 feet tall. It will be composed entirely of fabric and polyester-fiber filling.

"Mama: A Cryptozoological Study of Maternal Behavior."

That was the original title of a project I had imagined a while ago. It would have been composed of a series of screenprints that would depict all sorts of imaginary, terrifying, monstrous creatures raising and caring for their delightfully adorable young.

Now, "Mama" will be the name for the main creature produced by this project. She's going to be a massive and powerful creature with a mouthful of gnarly, chomping teeth. She'll have half a dozen tentacles and several pairs of armored claws. On her back will be a clutch of developing eggs, each ready to burst out and explore the world beyond!

Concept Art for Mama:

A rough digital sculpt of the potential overall shape of Mama:

Sea monster!

Egg clutch

A quick drawing of Mama's babies... the Tots

Ultimately, as Mama comes together I'd like to see her on display in a gallery space, preferably here in Chicago. She'll be joined by a school of her own adorable, bobbley brood, "the Tots" as pictured above.

Not only do I want Mama to be large but I want her to be as visually interesting as possible. While I do have designs set out and a rough idea of how to construct Mama, a great deal of this project will be improvised.

I want the creation of her shape to be born from the work; she might need another tentacle and some of the suckers may need little teeth. She might have armored plates that have been scratched and bear the marks of devastating encounters with other monstrous threats. Who knows what sorts of wild inspiration may occur during the process of bringing Mama to life!

What Mama Needs:

The main ingredients for this project are fabric, thread, and stuffing. It's a rough estimate, but I'm expecting that Mama, on her own, will utilize at least forty pounds of polyester-fiber filling and several yards of dozens of different sorts of fabric.

I delight in creating texture by matching a multitude of unexpected and different fabric. I want to utilize scraps of cotton and fleece, mixed with already textured upholstery fabric, and plastic vinyls. Faux fur creeping over her arms and body acting as needle-like spindles or decades of flourishing algae growth.

A fair amount of fleece and stuffing will be needed to create the plush toy "Tot," one of Mama's babies, that will be available to backers of this project. Also in regards to the awards, a portion of the funding will be spent on paper, ink, and a small number of screenprinting related supplies.

Rewards:

Backers will be receiving a few sweet, project exclusive rewards.

Choice of four available 5x5" single color hand pulled screenprints inspired by the concept art for Mama.

A handmade unhatched egg plush, just like the babies resting comfortably within Mama's egg clutch.

A handmade Tot plush. Limited to however many are created as rewards for backers of this project.

(A prototype of a plush Tot)

Tot Belly!

A limited three color 7x10" hand pulled screenprint created during the construction of Mama.

These items are exclusive to this kickstarter project and will not be available anywhere else to anybody else.

Previous Work by Vickangaroo:

To give everybody an idea of what my work in the past has been like, here are a few images of some of my favorite work. Of course, Mama is going to be bigger and wilder than anything I've done before with substantial detail and just a plethora of character!

CrabLumplins, LlaMumplins and StegoBumplins

Bunnies!

Squidlets

CrabLumplins, LlaMumplins and StegoBumplins

Pricklechin Hornbrow

Pinkbellied Morbull and Fervoret

Edison Tentacleese

Reginald Vel Johnson

"Regarding Curiousity" Hand pulled screenprint

"Unicorn 3" Hand pulled screenprint

Follow along here and on http://kickangaroo.tumblr.comas the project progresses. Weekly updates on the making of Mama! You'll get to see how all the bits and pieces will come together to form a massive monster plush!

FAQ

Have a question?
If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

(A) Your choice of ONE of the four 5x5" hand-pulled, single color screenprints based on the concept art of the Mother sea creature and her young. (B) ONE 2x2" hand pulled, thank you screenprint and my gratitude! Plus your name on the Supporters List when Mama gets put on display!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

(A) One handmade plush of one of Mama's unhatched eggs! Just like the eggs nestled in the clutch on her back. (B) Your choice of TWO of the four 5x5" hand-pulled, single color screenprints based on the concept art of the Mother sea creature and her young. (C) A 2x2" hand pulled, thank you screenprint and my gratitude! Plus your name on the Supporters List when Mama gets put on display!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $140 or more
About $140

(A) ONE handmade plush toy of one of Mama's Tots, far from fully grown and terribly fearsome, still wonderfully cute. (B) ONE handmade plush toy of Mama's unhatched eggs! Just like the eggs nestled in the clutch on her back. (C) All FOUR of the four 5x5" hand-pulled, single color screenprints based on the concept art of the Mother sea creature and her young. (D) A 2x2" hand pulled, thank you screenprint and my gratitude! Plus your name on the Supporters List when Mama gets put on display!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

(A) ONE limited edition 7x10" hand pulled three color screenprint created alongside the construction of Mama. (B) ONE handmade plush toy of Mama's Tots, far from fully grown and terribly fearsome, still wonderfully cute. (C) ONE handmade plush of Mama's unhatched eggs! Just like the eggs nestled in the clutch on her back. (D) All FOUR of the four 5x5" hand-pulled, single color screenprints based on the concept art of the Mother sea creature and her young. (E) A 2x2" hand pulled, thank you screenprint and my gratitude! Plus your name on the Supporters List when Mama gets put on display!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

(A) At this level, you magnificent backer, you will receive a custom one of a kind 10" toothy sea monster plush inspired by this project. You'll get to pick the colors, the fabric, and the number of teeth and tentacles, or maybe you love fins and eyeballs... It's all up to you! (B) ONE limited edition 7x10" hand pulled three color screenprint created alongside the construction of Mama. (C) ONE plush toy of Mama's Tots, far from fully grown and terribly fearsome, still wonderfully cute. (D) ONE of Mama's unhatched eggs! Just like the eggs nestled in the clutch on her back. (E) All FOUR of the four 5x5" hand-pulled, single color screenprints based on the concept art of the Mother sea creature and her young. (F) A 2x2" hand pulled, thank you screenprint and my gratitude! Plus your name on the Supporters List when Mama gets put on display!